Staging



J1me 1964 c. ECONOMOS ETAL 3,135,351

STAGING Filed Oct. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS' C HARLES ECONOMOS GEORGE P. VAILLANCOURT ATTORNEYS June 2, 1964 c. ECONOMOS ETAL 3,135,351

STAGING Filed Oct. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /09 50 M8 Hil-l a0 /04 11 94 /52 /46 /6 1 3 //98 M2 74 76 /OO w t f? FIGZ INVENTORS CHARLES ECONOMOS ATTORNEYS 7f GEORGE E VAILLANCOURT United States Patent ice STAGING Charles Economos, 681 Coggeshall St., and George P. Vaillancourt, 196 Division St., both of New Bedford,

Mas

Filed Oct. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 228,945 4 Claims. (6i. 182-57) nance of commercial buildings and the like, it is normal to fabricate a skeleton frame from the ground up, which requires considerable labor to fabricate and, moreover, requires a considerable inventory of parts to build the scaffolding to the required levels. It is apparent that the transporting of this type of scaffolding is also difficult and requires additional labor and time to load and unload. Other types of scaffolding are used, such as the conventional suspended scaffolding that utilizes sky hooks that are suspended from the top of the building. Rigging of this type of scaffolding requires considerable patience and effort, and since ropes and pulleys must be employed for maintaining the desired level of the scaffolding, the hazards experienced with such scaffolding are quite apparent.

The present invention represents a radical departure from the type of scaffolding or staging utilized heretofore and is not only simple to assemble but is unusually safe and allows complete maneuverability of the occupant exteriorly of the building on which the staging is mounted. The staging embodied herein is primarily for use in a specified area and normally is designed for use on double-hung type windows although it is contemplated that the concept of the invention may be utilized in connection with other type windows. The staging is so designed that it may be suspended from a window and locked in the window from the inside thereof. Thus the complete staging may be assembled at any height above the ground so long as the area to be serviced is exterior of a window through which access is available.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a staging that is assembled by insertion through a window, the staging being secured in position by locking elements disposed interiorly of the Window.

Another object of the invention is to provide a window inserted staging that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and that may be assembled in a matter of minutes.

Still another object is to provide a staging for use exteriorly of a building and that is secured in position by connecting members that extend through a window of the building for engagement with lock-in members located interiorly of the building.

Still another object is to provide a staging for use exteriorly of a building, the staging being flexible in opera- ,tion in that it may be adjusted to size, depending upon the size of the window on the exterior of which the staging is mounted.

Still another object is to provide a window inserted staging that includes at least two frame members, both of which are formed with aplurality of horizontal rungs,

3,135,351 Patented June 2, 1964 havingreplaceable parts and being easily assembled and disassembled without the use of special tooling.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the staging embodied in the present invention showing the position of the staging as it is mounted exteriorly of an elevated window in a building;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View with parts shown in section of the staging illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the staging embodied in the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and as shown is mounted on a building 12 in an opening 14 in which a window (not shown) is formed. For purposes of illustration, the upper frame of the window is designated at 16, and the lower frame thereof is designated at 18. It is understood that the component parts of the window are mounted between the upper frame 16 and the lower frame 18 in the conventional manner.

The staging 10 includes a pair of framemembers generally indicated at 20 and 22 that define a frame assembly. The frame members 20 and 22 are formed substantially identically and are joined to connecting members at the upper and lower end thereof, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. As will be pointed out, the

connecting members joined to the frame member 20 and to the frame member 22 are formed substantially similar, and the description of one of the frame members and the connecting members joined thereto will be similar with respect to the adjacent component parts of the other frame member and connecting member.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the frame member 20 is shown comprising a substantially vertical tube 24 that is turned inwardly at the bottommost end thereof to define a lower rung 26. The uppermost end of the tube 24 is turned inwardly to define an upper horizontal rung 28 that is substantially parallel to the lower rung 26. Spaced from the vertical tube 24 and joined to the upper and lower horizontal rungs 26, 28, is an inner tubular member 3i that is inclined with respect to the vertical and includes an offset portion 32 that is connected directly to the upper horizontal rung 28. Interconnecting the tube 24 and the tubular member 30 are spaced horizontal rungs '34, 36 and 38 that define adjustment positions for locating planks on which the occupant or occupants of the staging will stand in the use theerof.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the upper horizontal rung 28 extends outwardly of the offset portion 32 joined to the tubular member 30 as indicated at 40 and is provided with a collar 42 through which a hole 44 extends, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The

7 upper horizontal rung 28 also has a slide rod 46 joined n. p g part of a lower connecting assembly and is adapted to suspend the frame member 20 in the opening 14 formed in the building 12. The hanger pin 54 is preferably formed with a plurality of vertically spaced holes therein, each of which is adapted to accommodate the adjustment pin 52, vertical adjustment of the frame members thereby being provided.

Referring again to- FIG. 1, it will be noted that a plank 55 spans the space between the spaced frame members 2%] and 22. The plank 55 may be formed of any suitable material, such as wood, and is normally formed of such a dimension so as to be received between the tube 24 and the tubular member 3%. However, the plank is dimensioned to also fit between the tube 24 and the tubular member 3a when it'is resting on any of the other horizontal rungs. In order to prevent slipping of the plank 55 in position when an occupant is leaning towardthe building 12, an L-shaped rod 56 is provided and is Welded to each frame member at the lower outer corner of the tube 24 thereof. The plank 55 may also be firmly secured to the horizontal rung on which it rests by means of holddown elements generally indicated at 53 and 60. Each of the hold-down elements 58 and 6% includes shank portions 62 that project through openings formed in a hold-down member 63. The lowermost portions of the shanks 62 are curved as at 64 to fit around the tubular portion of the rung on which the plank 55 rests. A head 65 of each hold-down element 58 and 60 is secured to its shank 6?. and has a spring 66 disposed therebetween and the member 63. The member 63 extends beyond the edges of the plank 55, thereby enabling the elements 53 and dd to firmly clamp the plank 55 to the rung 26 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Although both the L-shaped rod 56 and the hold-down elements 58 and en are illustrated, it is understood that either of these clamping means may be utilized independent of the other to hold the plank 55 in position and to prevent it from sliding in use. If desired, two narrow planks may be used in place of the plank 55 when a wider working area for the occupants feet is required. In this event, the hold-down elements 58 and 60 could not be used and would therefore'be removed.

.loined to the tube 24 at the upper curved portion thereof is a projecting lug '70 to which an upper connecting member defined by an arm 72 is pivotally connected. An intermediate collar 74 is mounted on the arm 72 and receives an end of rod 48 therein, thereby tethering the arm 72. to the frame member 2t intermediate the end thereof. The other end of the rod 43 is secured in an opening formed in a slide lock bracket 75 that is fixed in an adjusted position on the slide 46 by a lock pin 77. it is adjusted on the rod 46 to the desired position and thereby vertically adjusts the position of the arm '72 to accommodate the staging in various size window openings. As Will be described hereinafter, the arm '72 may be moved to a storage position when the staging is to be mounted exteriorly of a relatively small size window.

Secured to the arm 72 adjacent the outer end thereof is a second sleeve '76 through which a pin 78 extends. A hang rod '80 projects through the tubular arm '72 in telescoping relation with respect thereto and is provided with openings that are adapted to coincide with openings formed in the arm 72 in the area of the sleeve 76. Thus the hang rod 8! may be inwardly or outwardly positioned in adjusting relation with respect to the end of the arm 72 and will be held in position by the pin 73 that projects through the appropriate opening in the hang rod 89. As more clearly illustrated in FIG. 1, the outermost end of the hang rod 80 is formed in a hook configuration that is adapted to extend around a hook-up bar that is formed as part of a lock-in member, as will be described.

The present invention is unique in that the staging is mounted in position exteriorly of a window by securing the component parts in place while remaining inside the building. 'Thus the staging is completely assembled in positionat any level above the ground without the use of ladders or other exterior supporting means.

in order to lock the frame members ZED and 22 in posi tion on the exterior side of the window, lock-in assemblies generally indicated at 822 and $4 are provided. In the description following, only lock-in assembly 82 will be discussed in detail although it is understood that the lockin assembly 84 is constructed substantially identical to lock-in assembly 82. The lock-in assembly 82 includes an elongated lock-in bar 86 that is tubular in construction and that is adapted to be disposed in a substantially vertical position. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lock-in bar 8e extends above and below the opening 14 of the window and, as will be described, cooperates with the elements associated therewith to be jammed against the upper and lower frames 16 and 18 of the window for securing the frame members in rigid position exteriorly of the window. An elongated collar 88 is slidably disposed on the upper portion of the lock-in bar 86 and has a rightangle bracket welded thereto that includes an inclined portion 9t} and a horizontal portion 92. An interior portion 94 of the bracket is joined directly to the elongated sleeve 88 and the inclined portion 99, while a downwardly extending lower portion 96 connected to the inclined portion W is welded directly to the elongated sleeve 83. A spac ng rod interconnects the sleeve 83 and the inner section 94 and thereby acts to reinforce the bracket. In order to adjust the sleeve 83 on the lock-in bar 86, the upper end of the lock-in bar 86 is provided with spaced holes (not shown). A pin 1% extends through a suitable opening formed in the sleeve 88 and is adapted to be inserted in the desired hole in the lock-in bar 86 for locking the sleeve 88 in the desired vertical location. As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the hook portion of the hook-up arm 82 extends around the inclined portion on of the sleeve bracket and interconnects the arm 72 to the lock-in assembly 82.

In order to firmly secure the lock-in assembly 82 on the upper frame 16, an L-shaped bracket 162 is provided and is joined to a short collar 104 through which the horizontal portion 92 of the sleeve bracket extends. A lock pin 106 fixes the collar 164 on the horizontal portion 92. It is seen that the angle bracket 162 is firmly located with respect to the corner of the upper frame 16 of the window and thus positively fixes the lock-in assembly 82 with respect to the upper frame 16 of the window. If the staging is to be mounted in a window that extends substan tially to the ceiling and thus is not provided with an upper casing or framing, an upper jam plate 10? is utilized to secure the lock-in assembly 82 at the upper end thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the jam plate 109 is secured to a collar 111 that is slidably mounted on the uppermost end of the lock-in bar 36. The jam plate 169 is then adjusted in position until it firmly abuts against the ceiling. A convenient lock pin may be inserted through the collar lllll to fix the jam plate 109 in the vertical position thereof.

In order to lock the lower end of the lock-in assembly 32 in the lower frame 18 of the window, a connectmg member and assembly are provided. The connecting member is indicated as a hanger arm 108 and has a substantially inclined portion that generally follows the contour of the window frame so as to extend exteriorly of the window. Secured to the lower end of the inclined portion of the hanger arm 1% is a strap on which a guide 112 is mounted. The guide 112 is disposed generally vertical and is adapted to receive the lower end of the hanger pin 54 therein. A second guide 114 is secured by a strap 11 6 interiorly of the guide 112 and is provided for securing the frame members 2!), 22 in position on a small size window, as will'be described. A tube 118 is welded directly to the hanger arm 108 at the curved portion thereof and is provided for bearing against the upper surface of the lower frame 18 and thereby serves as a foundation for the lower hanger arm 108. Joined the lower end of the lock-in bar 86 extends.

' of the window.

to the innermost end of the hanger arm 108 is a strap 120 that in turn is secured to a collar 122 through which The lower hanger arm 108 is thus firmly interconnected between the lock-in bar 86 and the hanger pin 54 and thereby interlocks the frame member to the lock-in bar 86.

Since it is necessary to firmly clamp the lower hanger arm 108 against the lower frame 18 of the window, a clamp unit is provided and includes a sleeve 124 through which the lock-in bar 86 extends and that is located just above the collar 122. A lock pin 126 extends through the collar 124 and is adapted to lock the collar 124 in adjusted position on the lock-in bar 86. A plate 128 is joined to the collar 124 and extends substantially in a horizontal plane over the horizontal portion of the lower hanger arm 108. The plate 128 is firmly mounted on the collar 124 by means of the bracket elements 130 and 132 that are joined thereto. Extending through a suitable opening formed adjacent the outer end of the plate 128 is a threaded adjustment bar 134 that is provided with a handle 136 at the upper end thereof and an arcuate clamp 138 at the lower end thereof. The arcuate clamp 138 rests on the horizontal portion of the lower hanger arm 108 and upon rotation of the adjustment bar 134 will firmly clamp the hanger arm 108 on the lower frame 18 It is seen that the clamp construction cooperates with the lower hanger arm 108 to further firmly interlock the frame member 20 to the lock-in assembly 82.

As seen in FIG. 2, the lowermost end of the lock-in bar 86 extends substantially below'the opening 14 of the window and bears against the inside portion of the lower frame 18. Since the upper portion of the lock-in assembly 82 is firmly engaged with the upper frame 16 through the angle bracket 102, the lock-in assembly 82 is positively positioned with respect to the frame of the window. The frame members 20 and 22 are securely suspended from the lock-in assembly 82 by means of the upper connecting arm 72 and the lower hanger arm 108. Since the plank 55 spans the space between the frame members 20, 22, a rigid and secure staging is provided that will amply support the weight of several occupants thereon. In order to provide for the safety of the occupants of the staging, an exterior guard railing 139 may be utilized and as shown in FIG. 1 is received within clamps 141 that are secured to the tubes 24 in some suitable fashion. Lock pins may be employed to fix the railing 139 to the clamps 141.

In the normal use of the staging embodied herein, the frame members 20 and 22 are adapted to span at least a large window, and on certain occasions, several windows, the frame members 20, 22 being disposed in this instance opposite the extreme windows so that the connecting members thereof project through the window openings. In the event that the staging is to be suspended from a smaller size window, thereby requiring that the frame members be drawn in closer proximity to the building wall, the upper and lower connecting members defined by the arm 72 and arm 108 are disconnected as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this instance, the book of the hook-up arm 82 is removed from engagement with the inclined portion 90 of the lock-in sleeve, and the stabilizer rod 48 is disconnected from the arm 72. Since the arm 72 is thus free for pivotal movement, it is rotated on the pivot point thereof and locked in a storage position by means of a yoke 140 secured to the outer tube 24 of the frame member 20. The hook arm 82 is then reinserted within the tubular portion 40 of the upper horizontal portion 28 of the tube 24. The upper sleeve 88 of the lock-in assembly 82 is then moved downwardly on the lock-in bar 86 so as to be in alignment with the newly positioned hook arm 82. The book arm is locked in the tubular portion 40 by means of a pin extending through the hole 42 in the collar 44. The hook of the hook arm 82 is then located in engaging relation thereof. The hanger arm 108 is clamped in position to the lock-in bar 86 as previously described, and since the lock-in bar 86 and the components associated therewith are secured to the interior portions of the frame of the window from which the staging is suspended, the frame members 20 and 22 are firmly locked in position.

On occasion, it is desirable to locate the plank 55 or an additional plank on the horizontal rung 38 or the upper horizontal portion 28 so as to accommodate another occupant for the purposes of extending the working area of the staging. In this event, it is essential to utilize some form of railing so as to provide for the safety of the occupant on the upper located plank. For this purpose, a railing post 142 is secured to each of the frame members '20, 22 and, more specifically, is pivotally clamped to the tube 24 of each frame member by a yoke 144. Mounted on the railing post 142 adjacent the upper end thereof is a collar 146 that is pinned to the railing post by a pin 148. In order to support a guard rail, a ring 150 is joined to the collar 146 and is adapted to receive a convenient guard rail therein. An adjusting pin 152 extends through the ring 150 and clamps the ring to the rail, thereby firmly securing the rail in position. In the event that the upper guard rail is not required then the rail post 142 is pivoted to a lower storage position and is received within a yoke 154 that is secured to the lower end of the vertical tube 24.

It is seen that the staging embodied in the present invention is relatively simple in construction and may be assembled with little difficulty without the use of special tooling. The upper and lower arms that are adapted to interconnect the frame members to the lock-in assembly are simply clamped in position, and if the requirement for close range working conditions is present, such as when the staging is suspended from a small size window, the interconnecting members may be easily disconnected from their extended position and reconnected to locate the frame members in close proximity to'the outer surface of the window from which the staging is suspended. The use of the novel arrangement of the lock-in assembly insures that the frame members 20, 22 will be rigidly locked in the suspended position, and it is apparent that the more weight that is applied to the plank 55 that spans the space between the frame members, the more firmly the'staging will lock in the suspended position thereof.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a window inserted staging, a pair of frame members, each of which is formed generally in a monoplane that is substantially vertical, said frame members being located in spaced relation on opposite sides of a window and including at least one horizontal rung, a plank for supporting an occupant of said staging spanning the space between said frame members and located on the rungs thereof, at least two upper connecting members, each of which is pivotally joined to one of said frame members at the upper end thereof, at least two lower connecting members, each of which is interconnected to the lower end of one of said frame members, said upper and lower connecting members extending inwardly through a win dow opening, and lock-in members secured to said upper and lower connecting members and bearing against the inside frame of said window, thereby supporting said frame members in fixed position exteriorly of said window, each of said upper connecting members including a tubular arm in the outer end of which a hanger arm is telescopically mounted, said tubular arm being adjustably interconnected to the upper end of the frame member on which it is mounted, and the outer end of said hanger arm having a hook joined thereto for interconnecting to a lock-in member, the upper end of the frame members including a second tubular arm into which said hanger arm is inserted after withdrawal of said hanger arm from said first tubular arm when said staging is adapted to be moved into close proximity to the window from which it is suspended.

2. In a Window inserted staging, a pair of frame members, each of which is formed generally in a monoplane that is substantially vertical, said frame members being located in spaced relation on opposite sides of a window and including at least one horizontal rung, a plank for supporting an occupant of said staging spanning the space between said frame members and located on the rungs thereof, at least two upper connecting members, each of which is pivotally joined to one of said frame members at the upper end thereof, at least two lower connecting members, each of which is interconnected to the lower end of one of said frame members, said upper and lower connecting members extending inwardly through a window opening, and lock-in members secured to said upper and lower connecting members and bearing against the inside frame of said window, thereby supporting said frame members in fixed position exteriorly of said window, each of said lower connecting members including a lower hanger arm adjustably connected to the lower end of a lock-in member, a hanger pin adjustably connected to the lower end of a frame member and interconnected to said lower hanger arm, and a hold-down clamp secured to a lock-in member and engaging said lower hanger arm for locking said lower hanger arm in position.

3. In a window inserted staging, a frame assembly including at least two frame members that are located in spaced relation, means spanning the space between said frame members and mounted thereon for supporting an occupant of said staging, at least two elongated vertically disposed lock-in members located interiorly of a window, an upper connecting member pivotally interconnected to the upper end of each-fram member and to a lock-in member, a lower connecting member interconnected to the lower end of each frame member and to a lock-in member, means secured to the upper ends of said lock-in members for clamping said lock-in members to the upper interior frame of said window, and means secured to the lower ends of said lock-in members for clamping said lower connecting members to the lower frame of said window, each of said upper connecting members including an adjustable arm having a hook joined thereto that is interconnected to a hook-up element mounted on the upper end of a lock-in member, and said means for clamping said lower connecting membersto the lower frame of said window including a hold-down clamp that is interconnected to a lock-in member, the, upper end of each frame'including an exposed tube into which the adjustable arm is inserted when said staging is adapted to be mounted in close proximity to the window from which it is suspended.

4. In a window inserted staging as set forth in claim 3, each of said frame members having an elongated railing post pivotally connected thereto and being movable to a substantially vertical position for supporting an upper railing thereon.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,877 Regondi Aug. 20, 1907 959,278 Wells May 24, 1910 2,854,292 Schaelfer Sept. 30, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 177,497 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1935 959,745 France Oct. 10, 1949 

1. IN A WINDOW INSERTED STAGING, A PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS, EACH OF WHICH IS FORMED GENERALLY IN A MONOPLANE THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL, SAID FRAME MEMBERS BEING LOCATED IN SPACED RELATION ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A WINDOW AND INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE HORIZONTAL RUNG, A PLANK FOR SUPPORTING AN OCCUPANT OF SAID STAGING SPANNING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND LOCATED ON THE RUNGS THEREOF, AT LEAST TWO UPPER CONNECTING MEMBERS, EACH OF WHICH IS PIVOTALLY JOINED TO ONE OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS AT THE UPPER END THEREOF, AT LEAST TWO LOWER CONNECTING MEMBERS, EACH OF WHICH IS INTERCONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF ONE OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS, SAID UPPER AND LOWER CONNECTING MEMBERS EXTENDING INWARDLY THROUGH A WINDOW OPENING, AND LOCK-IN MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID UPPER AND LOWER CONNECTING MEMBERS AND BEARING AGAINST THE INSIDE FRAME OF SAID WINDOW, THEREBY SUPPORTING SAID FRAME MEMBERS IN FIXED POSITION EXTERIORLY OF SAID WINDOW, EACH OF SAID UPPER CONNECTING MEMBERS INCLUDING A TUBULAR ARM IN THE OUTER END OF WHICH A HANGER ARM IS TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED, SAID TUBULAR ARM BEING ADJUSTABLY INTERCONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF THE FRAME MEMBER ON WHICH IT IS MOUNTED, AND THE OUTER END OF SAID HANGER ARM HAVING A HOOK JOINED THERETO FOR INTERCONNECTING TO A LOCK-IN MEMBER, THE UPPER END OF THE FRAME MEMBERS INCLUDING A SECOND TUBULAR ARM INTO WHICH SAID HANGER ARM IS INSERTED AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF SAID HANGER ARM FROM SAID FIRST TUBULAR ARM WHEN SAID STAGING IS ADAPTED TO BE MOVED INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE WINDOW FROM WHICH IT IS SUSPENDED. 